Cleveland baseball holds off Piedra Vista in wild finish to stay undefeated at 19-0

No. 1 Cleveland nearly blows 9-1 lead, holds off No. 2 Piedra Vista in tense District 1-5A showdown in Rio Rancho

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the tension and energy of a high school baseball game, with players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final innings of the high-stakes baseball showdown between Cleveland and Piedra Vista.Rio Rancho Today

In a high-stakes District 1-5A baseball showdown, the undefeated No. 1 Cleveland Storm nearly blew a commanding 9-1 lead over No. 2 Piedra Vista before holding on for a 9-7 victory. The Storm raced out to an early lead, but a disastrous top of the seventh inning saw Piedra Vista score five runs and load the bases before Cleveland reliever Caleb Sandoval induced a game-ending flyout to preserve the win.

Why it matters

This game featured a matchup of two of the top high school baseball teams in New Mexico, with Cleveland ranked No. 1 and Piedra Vista at No. 2. The Storm's undefeated record was on the line, as was their position atop the District 1-5A standings. The dramatic comeback attempt by Piedra Vista also highlighted the resilience and competitiveness of the Panthers, who refused to give up despite the large deficit.

The details

Cleveland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and extended it to 9-1 by the fourth, with RBIs coming from Francisco Hernandez, Treven Polanco, Caleb Sandoval, Noah Segura, and Peyton Noel. However, the Storm unraveled in the seventh, committing multiple errors that allowed Piedra Vista to score five runs and load the bases with the go-ahead run on base. Reliever Caleb Sandoval was able to get the final out and preserve the win for Cleveland.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Cleveland's next game is on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Volcano Vista.

The players

Jacob Vasquez

The Cleveland left-hander gave the Storm a solid starting pitching performance.

Caleb Sandoval

The Cleveland reliever came in to get the final out and record the save in the dramatic victory.

Francisco Hernandez

The Cleveland third baseman scored a run and drove in another in the win.

Treven Polanco

The Cleveland designated hitter singled home two runs in the first inning.

Alexis Hernandez

The Piedra Vista starting pitcher was touched up for four runs in the first inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Oh man, it was very nerve-wracking.”

— Caleb Sandoval, Cleveland reliever

“Big relief. That was maybe the most stressful game I've had in high school.”

— Francisco Hernandez, Cleveland third baseman

“We just battled through adversity, that's what we do.”

— Caleb Sandoval, Cleveland reliever

“I thought we played really good baseball for the first six innings. Top of the seventh, we made a few errors that we haven't been making. We gotta clean that up a little bit. … I think we're not playing all three facets of the game up to our standards.”

— Shane Shallenberger, Cleveland head coach

What’s next

Cleveland's next game is on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Volcano Vista. Coach Shallenberger will decide whether to appeal his ejection from Tuesday's game, which occurred in the seventh inning.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the competitiveness and resiliency of both teams, as well as the importance of maintaining focus and execution throughout an entire game. Cleveland's undefeated start to the season was nearly derailed by a disastrous seventh inning, but they were able to hold on for the win. The Storm will need to shore up their defensive play if they hope to continue their dominant run through the rest of the season.